OAK PARK — Fenwick junior guard Mike Smith has a fine line to walk every time he steps on the court.

Smith has the ability to completely take a game over, but that’s not always in the team’s best interest.

Yet at other times that may be exactly what’s needed, as was the case Tuesday night during Fenwick’s 53-35 Chicago Catholic crossover victory over Bishop McNamara.

With the Friars clinging to a four-point lead early in the third, Smith decided it was time to create some breathing room. On four consecutive trips down the court, Smith drove the lane. The result was two Smith layups, two Smith free throws and a beautiful no-look assist on a 3-pointer by Mike Ballard as Fenwick (6-0) scored nine straight points.

Smith finished the night with 23 points while shooting 8-for-12.

“I felt like I needed to score so I did that,” Smith said. “Last year I had a different role. I had more Division I players with me so I didn’t need to be the scorer. I just had to contribute. This year when things are down everybody looks to me for a bucket. I felt like I needed to do that in the second half.”

Ballard became the biggest beneficiary of Smith’s decision to drive to the basket. The Irish (1-4, 0-2) started packing the lane and Ballard wreaked havoc from beyond the arc. The 6-4 forward was 0-for-3 inside, but he went 6-for-7 from three-point land, including four in a row in the third quarter, and finished with 19 points.

“I’ve been playing with [Ballard] since I was young and I know what he likes,” Smith said. “When they started collapsing on me I know he is going to hit that shot.”

Ballard was happy to have the Bishop McNamara’s defense focused elsewhere.

“[Smith] helps set up not just me but the whole team because Mike is so good at driving to the paint,” Ballard said. “It’s hard to contain him so they have to help on him and that gives me and my teammates open shots.”

Fenwick coach Rick Malnati liked what Smith was able to do offensively, but the coach also has set a very high bar for Smith.

“I thought he did a great job offensively and came ready to play,” Malnati said. “Mike is a point guard and his job is to make sure everyone else is playing well. [Tuesday], although he scored points, his teammates didn’t play well. So he has to put them in a position to play well.”

Smith feels like he’s made big strides since last year. He played with MeanStreets U-16 and got to play in the Nike Peach Jam in Atlanta, where the team took fourth.

“It’s the best of the best,” Smith said. “It’s really helped me develop as a player and I learned how to play against better players.”

Malnati likes what he sees from Smith but is always looking for more.

“He’s got speed and quickness and can handle the ball and that scrambles other teams,” Malnati said. “He goes by a guy and makes another guy come to him. Now we need to get that same type of ability defensively where he can lock guys up. So we’re asking a lot but that’s what you need to do with a young team that’s trying to learn to win.”